The commentary translated in these pages is unusual and rare. But if the commentary is a rarity, its subject matter—the seven-line invocation of Padmasambhava—is one of the best-known prayers in the Tibetan Buddhist world.

The overall significance of the Seven-Line Prayer is perhaps best appreciated in relation to a practice called guru-yoga, or "union with the nature of the guru." The purpose of guru-yoga is to purify and deepen the student's relationship with his or her teacher. It is introduced as one of the preliminary practices, and it remains crucial—in fact, its importance increases—as one progresses through the more advanced levels of the tantric path. The cultivation of devotion to the guru and the blending of one's mind with his or her enlightened mind is, in the words of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, "the most vital and necessary of all practices and is in itself the surest and fastest way to reach the goal of enlightenment."

Regarding the origin of this commentary, Mipham refers in the colophon to an event that triggered the abrupt appearance in his mind of the hidden meaning of the prayer. It is interesting to note that the language Mipham uses suggests that the commentary itself is not an ordinary composition but perhaps a treasure teaching, specifically a "mind-treasure" or gongter.

JAMGON MIPHAM (1846-1912) was one of the great lum inaries of Tibetan Buddhism in modern times. He has had a dominant and vitalizing influence on the Nyingma school and beyond. A scholar of outstanding brilliance and versatility, his translated works are eagerly anticipated by English-language readers.

The PADMAKARA TRANSLATION GROUP, based in France has a distinguished reputation for all its translations of Tibetan texts and teachings. Its works has been published in several languages and is renowned for its clear and accurate literary style.

Contents: White Lotus

Foreword by Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche

xi

Translators' Introduction

1

White Lotus

Prologue

21

An explanation of the outer, literal meaning of the Seven-Line
Prayer

26

An explanation of the Seven-Line Prayer according
to its hidden meaning

46

An explanation of the Seven-Line Prayer according
to the teachings of the path of liberation

46

An explanation of the Seven-Line Prayer according to the
path of skillful means

58

An explanation of the Seven-Line Prayer according
to the general perfection stage of the unsurpassable Secret Mantra

58

An explanation of the Seven-Line Prayer according
to the innermost, secret Great Perfection, the Heart-Essence of Luminosity

65

An explanation of the Seven-Line Prayer according
to the conclusive pith instructions related to the achievement of the
practice of the path of liberation and skillful means previously explained

74

A brief explanation of how the foregoing expositionmay
be implemented as a practice